News and views on the UK's Green Parties

Swindon Young Greens Join March for Refugees

Swindon Young Greens and Swindon Green Party took part in a march in support of refugees yesterday. The march, organised by People’s Assembly activist Kate Linnegar, was called to highlight the positive contributions made by refugees and asylum seekers to the city of Swindon.

Speaking to the Swindon Advertiser, Bradley Williams of the Swindon Young Greens said: “I think it [the plight of refugees] should matter to anyone with a heart. I would like to think that if, God forbid, anything should happen in this country, I would make it out to a safe country with my family.”

The march took place in an increasingly toxic environment for refugees and migrants in the UK. Media outlets such as the Daily Express and Daily Mail have been whipping up negative and sensationalist rhetoric around migration for over a decade, and the rise of hard right politics including through UKIP and the Brexit vote have combined to harden public opinion on the issue.

Dozens of people attended the march, in spite of heavy rain, which built on last year’s demonstration attended by over 100 people.